The University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Pullen Art Gallery will host a special open exhibition in February that pays homage to the feline—The Art of Meow will be on display from Feb. 5 to 26, with an opening reception on Friday, Feb. 5 from 6-8 p.m. during the February First Friday Art Walk. All are invited to attend this free event.
The Art of Meow—which “honors the purr-maker,” from the alley cat to the tuxedo cat—will feature the works of UMPI students, alumni, professors and community members. As conceptualized by Art Program students, a variety of media will be represented, from drawings and paintings to photographs and mixed media.
Organizers said this is the first time in recent memory that a gallery show at the University has been devoted to a topic like this, but that those involved in the exhibition and the wider community have responded enthusiastically to the idea.
UMPI Assistant Professor of Art Heather Sincavage had this to say about the show: “Teaching in the Art Program and getting to know our students, and them knowing me, we’d often share stories of our pets. We found we have a genuine love of animals. Jokingly, one of us threw out there that we should do a cat art show. My feeling was ‘Why not!’ Our program is about engaging our interests, transforming that interest to a creative expression and gaining the experience in professional practices. This exhibit fulfills all of that—so we are thrilled to present our ode to the purr-maker, The Art of Meow!”
Fourteen artists will have their work on display for the exhibition, including: Rowena Alley, Loretta Coty, Jana M. Dumond, Arianna Forbes, Tom Fuhrmark, Mollie Hicks, Corey Levesque, Jessalyn Levesque, Jacky Poulin, Monica Quist, Emma Ruff, Heather Sincavage, Janet Snow, and Lauryn Wegmann,
The public is encouraged to come out for First Friday on Feb. 5 to attend the free opening reception, and also view the show throughout its run.
The Pullen Art Gallery is open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. The gallery is closed during University holidays. For more information about this event, please contact Sincavage at heather.sincavage@maine.edu. You can also follow gallery happenings on the UMPI Art Facebook page, www.facebook.com/UMPIAD, or on Instagram @umpiart.
